Clothespin



Sept. 12, 1939. D. DE AMARIO 2,173,010

CLOTHESPIN Filed Dec. 1, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in clothespins and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a clothespin of the pincher type equipped with means for conven- 5 iently and expeditiously looking or unlocking said pin to a line and by the use of one hand if desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a locking mechanism in connection with a lo clothespin of the above described character whereby, when said mechanism is brought into operation, the jaws of the pin will be firmly secured in a locked position from which they can depart only when the locking mechanism 15 has been properly released from its locking position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described so constructed and arranged as to reliably secure clothes and 20 the like to a clothesline in a manner to preclude slipping or dislodgement of the clothes from said line.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which 25 is simple in construction, durable in use, efiicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claim and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating the latter in locked condition and 5 depicting the locking member in released position in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

My novel form of clothespin comprises a pair of coacting sections 5 and 6 formed on one end thereof with jaw members I and 8 respectively having opposing faces adapted for abutting engagement when in closed or locked position. 5 Each of the opposing faces of the jaw members are fashioned with transverse extending semicircular grooves adapted for registry with each other to define a circular slot 9 for receiving therethrough a clothesline or the like.

Adjacent the jaw members I and 8, the inner faces of the sections 5 and 6 diverge outwardly to permit said faces to be moved toward each other as hereinafter set forth. The sections 5 and 6, adjacent the jaw members 1 and 8, have 55 secured in recesses formed in the end faces thereof, yokes l embracing said sections and fashioned with ends pivoted together as at I I whereby to permit hinging of said sections in a manner to dispose said jaw members in extended position relative to each other for attachment about said clothesline in the usual manner.

The end of the section 5, oppositely disposed from the jaw member H, has secured thereabout a clip I2 to which is pivotally connected the base end of a cruciform locking member or bar I3. 10 The oppositely disposed end of the section 6 is provided with a lengthwise extending slot I5.

Positioned within the slot I5 is a U-shaped resilient clip I6, the ends of the arms of which are right angularly and oppositely disposed and are secured by means of rivets to the end face of the section 6 as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The arms of said clip, adjacent the inner end thereof are offset towards each other to form shoulders 11 adapted to overlie and engage a face of the outer end of the locking member I3. The transverse bar I8 of the locking member engages the inner face of the section 6 when said bar is locked within the clip I6.

In use, the locking member I3 being in the position illustrated in dotted lines of Figure 1, the sections 5 and 6 are pivoted towards each other to effect a spreading of the jaw members I and 8 relative to each other whereby said jaws are disposed about a clothesline and embrace clothes suspended therefrom. The sections are then operated in a reverse direction to effect clamping of the jaw members with the clothes on said line and to dispose the line in registry with the slot 9. When the pin has thus been arranged, the member I3 is actuated downwardly whereby the transverse bar I8 engages the inner face of the section 6 and serves to effect clamping of the jaw members about the line as said outer end I4 of the member I3 is actuated into the inner end of the clip It and beneath the shoulders I'I, said shoulders coacting to maintain said member I3 locked within the clip II; as. illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. Release of the clothespin from the clothesline may be obtained by manually forcing the outer end I4 of the member I3 upwardly through the clip I6, it being understood that said clip is of a sufficient yieldability to permit the end I4 being manually actuated out of the clip.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and efiicient clothespin that is capable of being reliably secured to a clothesline to maintain clothes thereon against undesired dislodgement therefrom.

A device of the character described, compris ing, a pair of hinged sections having coacting jaws, one of said sections fashioned with a slot, a resilient clip secured Within said slot, 2. cruciform locking member pivoted to the other of said sections and seated within said clip, said clip fashioned with shoulders for engaging said member to lock the latter in said clip whereby to maintain said sections in relative extended position and said jaws in clamped position about a clothesline, said clip yieldable to release said bar from engagement with said shoulders and Withdrawal from the clip to permit relative movement of said sections and detachment of said jaws from said line.

DAVID DE AMARIO. 

